Mount Pleasant police may be closing in on man who took 14 year-old girl

2013-05-05T22:12:29Z2013-07-04T22:12:05Z

Victim Ruby Zavala. (Source: Mount Pleasant Police)

Suspect Jesus Ramires. (Source: Mount Pleasant Police)

MOUNT PLEASANT, TX (KLTV) -

At about 2:00 p.m. Monday afternoon, Titus County authorities responded to a possible sighting of missing 14-year-old Ruby Zavala 9 miles west of Mount Pleasant.

The FBI has now joined in the search, providing technical and logistical support to the Mount Pleasant Police, Titus county Sheriff's and DPS troopers.

Around 1:00 p.m. Sunday, a mother and two children were taken by knife point by 23-year-old Jesus Ramires in a church parking lot, according to law enforcement. The suspect then took the three victims by vehicle to a county residence. The mother and one of the children were then released, however, Ramires kept 14-year-old Ruby Zavala.

The vehicle that Ramires was driving was recovered after being wrecked just before 5 p.m. on County Road 2500 between the town of Winfield and Lake Monticello, just west of Mount Pleasant.

Mount Pleasant Police, Titus county Sheriff's and DPS troopers have set up a command post near the intersection of CR 2500 and FM 127. This is also where they are searching for the suspect and the victim. Sunday a helicopter in the air was searching for the two.

"We're trying to canvas the area, heavily wooded area a lot of field its a mined area for Luminant," said Wayne Isbell, Mount Pleasant Police Chief. "Ramires knows the family, the victim, they had at one time a dating relationship. he's previously been arrested for sexual assault of a child. We do believe he's armed and dangerous."

According to the Mount Pleasant Police Department, the suspect is considered armed and dangerous and could be mentally ill.

The victim, Ruby Zavala, is described as a Hispanic female, 5-feet tall, 120 lbs, black hair, brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a white top, blue jeans and tan shoes.

The suspect, Jesus Ramires, is described as a Hispanic male, 5-feet 9-inches tall, 165 lbs, black hair, brown eyes and was last seen wearing a black ball cap.

Ramires' records show that he has multiple assault charges and a sexual assault charge, as recent as March 27, 2013.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Mount Pleasant Police Department.

Members of Comunidad Colectiva, an immigrant advocacy group, plans to speak out against the 287g program at the Mecklenburg County Commissioners meeting Tuesday night. 287g is a federal program that allows law enforcement officers to detain illegal immigrants arrested in Mecklenburg County.

One person is dead after a fatal car crash in Pineville Monday night. The crash occurred on NC 51 near I-485 around 10 p.m. Police say two vehicles were involved in the crash. No other injuries were reported as a result of the crash.

One person is dead after a fatal car crash in Pineville Monday night. The crash occurred on NC 51 near I-485 around 10 p.m. Police say two vehicles were involved in the crash. No other injuries were reported as a result of the crash.